NEWSWIRE

FLOODING AT THE GRANGE MOVES ODI'S TO AYR

After the original ground, The Citylets Grange, was declared unplayable after the ground was flooded when the Water of Leith burst its banks following recent heavy rainfall.

A formal request to move the fixture was made by the host Cricket Scotland to ICC today (Sunday 8 June). The final decision to switch venues was made after consultation with the ICC, an investigation of the conditions at Ayr and discussing the options with both team managements, who both agreed to the change of venue because of the exceptional circumstances.

The first match day, scheduled for Monday 9 July, has already been abandoned. It is hoped that with the benefit of a full day of preparation that the first WCL Championship game will now utilise the reserve day and be played at Ayr on Tuesday 10 July. The second ODI will be played as scheduled on Wednesday 11 July with the ability to use the reserve day on Thursday 12th July if required.

The top two teams from the WCL Championship will automatically join ICC’s 10 Full Members in the ICC CWC 2015, while the bottom six teams in the WCL Championship will receive a second qualifying opportunity when they will lock horns for the remaining two places in the ICC CWC 2015 by competing in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier (CWCQ) in early 2014.

Cricket Scotland Chief Executive Roddy Smith stated, ‘’Every effort is being made by the ICC, Cricket Scotland and the teams to play these vital games. The weather that has hit Scotland in recent weeks is unprecedented and has given all our clubs major problems. We are very grateful to Ayr CC for both agreeing to host the matches at a couple of days’ notice and now working so hard to get their ground ready for Tuesday. We just have to hope that the weather improves and we can play some cricket”.